Panasonic DMC-LX3 VS Canon Powershot G10

This is a simple test to the video. I placed the cameras on a rock outcropping on the beach on a small tripod.

Cameras set to run on auto and simply let them run for a short time. I did not have the Canon Wind Filter turned on that I know of.

These are VERY large files about 80MB each so you might want to download them to see them.

Both files are in MOV format which is what the camera recorded on to the SD card…

Canon Video

Panasonic Video

DETAILS: The panasonic takes HD video and the Canon does not.

Canon G10: Max. Clip Size: 4 GB*. * Even before the recording size reaches 4 GB, recording will stop at the moment the recording time reaches 1 hour. Depending on memory card capacity and data write speed, recording may stop before the file size reaches 4 GB or the recording time reaches 1 hour. Movie: 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) available up to 4GB or 60 minutes

Specs: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=144&modelid=17624#ModelTechSpecsAct

Manual: http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/0300001565/PSG10_CUG_EN.pdf’,%20′PSG10_CUG_EN.pdf

Panasonic LX3: Max. Clip Size: 2 GB. Motion picture: QuickTime Motion JPEG. 4:3 Aspect Ratio: VGA 640 x 480 pixels 30 fps, QVGA 320 x 240 pixels 30 fps/10 fps 16:9 Aspect Ratio: WVGA 848 x 480 pixels 30 fps, HD: 1280 x 720 24FPS.

Specs: http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/support/Cameras-Camcorders/Digital-Cameras/Lumix-Digital-Cameras/model.DMC-LX3K

Manual: ???

Which do you enjoy looking at the most?

Which seems technically the best?

Where we bought ours:

Panasonic DMC-LX3

Canon Powershot G10

More Posts:

LX3: http://www.vitalbodies.com/blog/tag/lx3/

G10: http://www.vitalbodies.com/blog/tag/canon-powershot-g10/

Canon G10 Eagle telephoto

Panasonic LX3 Eagle Telephoto

Panasonic DMC-LX3 VS Canon Powershot G10

For this one, you really need to see the bigger image.

This Eagle does not usually stay in that tree very long and I was lucky to get two images even on auto.

All auto, just another test shot, hand help but braced against the open window frame.

Click the images or visit The Gallery for larger images.

Get each image from the gallery set up on your screen so you see the image the way it looks best.

Which do you enjoy looking at the most?

Which seems technically the best?

Where we bought ours:

Panasonic DMC-LX3

Canon Powershot G10

More Posts:

LX3: http://www.vitalbodies.com/blog/tag/lx3/

G10: http://www.vitalbodies.com/blog/tag/canon-powershot-g10/

Sigma SD14

Lumix DCM-LX3

3 Test Images:
The first two are a simple product shot done indoors near a window in fairly low natural light from the window.

The product shots were done on Automatic and were meant to simulate taking products shots where one needs some nice clear images in a hurry.

No time to fiddle with the camera.

Every setting on the camera is at the default as far as we know.

Lumix Product Shot 1: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000107.JPG

Lumix Product Shot 2: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000108.JPG

Sigma Product Shot 1: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/SDIM3414.JPG

Sigma Product Shot 2: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/SDIM3415.JPG

The second images are shot with a tripod set on the railing of an ocean front deck.
This landscape shot the cameras are set to Auto. The Lumix was taken first and the Sigma immediately after.

The Sigma uses a 17-70MM F2.8-4.5 lens and the lens was set to 17mm.

Every setting on the camera is at the default as far as we know.

This image was not intended to be artsy or amazing, but was taken in the spirit of trying to show something to someone.

To show something you see, as you would see it.

Like, here is what I see off my deck today…

Lumix Landscape Shot 1: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000109.JPG

Sigma Landscape Shot 2: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/SDIM3416.JPG

The photos are likely to have some noise full size, but see how they look scaled down to the size you might print or show on your screen or a web site.

Additionally, no post production was done to the images.

To the eye of the photographer, the Lumix photo matched what the eye saw when the photo was taken way better.

Which photos do you think turned out best?

Classic situation, you decide to go for a walk on the beach; at the last moment you grab your camera and pop it into your pocket.

The sun is about to set and by the time you make it to the sand, the sun has set.

A beautiful yet low light situation…

In simple point and shoot mode with the camera on auto, how does it perform?

IMAGES:

Point and Shot: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000114.JPG

Point and Shot: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000115.JPG

Point and Shot: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000116.JPG

Point and Shot: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000117.JPG

Point and Shot: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000134.JPG

Point and Shot: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000135.JPG

Point and Shot: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000160.JPG

Straight from the camera with no post work.

Point and Shoot is fun again! : )

We thought the results were amazing, what do you think?

3 Test Images:
The first two are a simple product shot done indoors near a window in fairly low natural light from the window.

The product shots were done on Intelligent Automatic (iA) and were meant to simulate taking products shots where one needs some nice clear images in a hurry.
Every setting on the camera is at the default as far as we know.

Product Shot 1: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000107.JPG

Product Shot 2: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000108.JPG

The second images are shot with a tripod set on the railing of an ocean front deck.
This landscape shot the camera is set to iA.

Every setting on the camera is at the default as far as we know.

This image was not intended to be artsy or amazing, but was taken in the spirit of trying to show something to someone.

To show something you see, as you would see it.

Like, here is what I see off my deck today…

Landscape Shot 1: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000109.JPG

The photos are likely to have some noise full size, but see how they look scaled down to the size you might print or show on your screen or a web site.

The photos all in all, came out really nice compared to cameras we have had in the past. We are very excited about this camera.

Additionally, no post production was done to the images.

Here is a first VERY VERY brief impression. Just got the camera today.

Set to iA (auto) 16:9 and took a shoot out the window and included the window frame.
Not the greatest (fairly dark rainy day) light but the image looks like what you would see with your eyes.

CHARGING: The battery does not come charged, so we had to charge it. The charger is small and nicely built. When the green light is on, the battery is charging and when the green light is off the battery is done charging – simple.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: The size and build seem very nice. The three aspect ratios are really nice also and are as easy as setting the switch on the top of the lens. The screen is amazing. HD looked amazing. Seems intuitive to use for a new user.

SLIGHTLY DEEPER: We do like the wide angle lens – especially for point and shoot! The macro close up is close and worked for us in poor light!

ON THE BIG SCREEN: Most of the test shots came out about how they look to the eye but a bit brighter on the computer screen. The results in poor light seem awesome. The big concern would be graininess from what I saw so far.

Still need to check if the RAW files can be edited in UFRaw or RAWstudio.

Trying to choose a point and shoot digital camera for photo enthusiasts is a tough job. But somebody has to do it… : )

After surfing around a bit and seeing that are more cameras than one can think about I had to narrow our choices down.

Rather than mega-pixels (MP) as one of our deciding factors, we chose the ability to shoot in RAW. To further narrow we wanted a 3 inch 460,000 pixel screen (or better ) rather than the 230,000 pixel screens.

Another deciding factor is portability, we have other big cameras but we want one to have with us all the time. So truly portable matters.

Additionally Image Stabilization was a deciding factor.

One of us wanted HD video as a BONUS and the other wanted some telephoto range but they were not to be the deciding factors.

We both wanted great shots without have to fiddle with the camera and the ability to fiddle if we want to. This camera is for shooting family gatherings and other “in the moment” events where setting up a camera and fiddling with it is either distracting or you miss the shot. Thus – point and shoot is a must.

We narrowed all the contenders down to two choices and then a third if we did not want to spend the big bucks after all or just wanted to compromise.

OUR TOP CONTENDERS:
Canon Powershot G10 $408:
PROS: Middle on most things, Viewfinder, Best resolution at 14.7MP.
CONS: Highest price, Middle on most things, No HD video.

Panasonic Lumix DCM-LX3 $399:
PROS: F2-2.8, HD Video, Small and Light, best low light and wide angle.
CONS: $180 more that the TZ5, 10.1MP, No Viewfinder, 60mm telephoto.

Panasonic Lumix DCM-TZ5 $220:
PROS: Price, 28mm-280mm, HD Video, 2.3″ CCD, Small and Light, best telephoto and price.
CONS: Lowest Resolution, 9.1MP, No Viewfinder, F3.3-4.9, No RAW or manual adjustments.

THE SAME FEATURES ON ALL:
Really nice 3″ 460K screen, image stabilization.

MENTAL DELIBERATIONS:

• The TZ5 is what we were really looking for and the price is right and the zoom is great but this ones is the worst of the bunch for low light.
• The G10 is really nice in that it has more zoom than the LX3. Does RAW and is a pro version (like the LX3) and manual controls and build like a tank but bulkier and heavier with perhaps better controls.
• The LX3 is small light and the low light low noise and 24mm with F2. The 60mm is some what of a show stopper and if that 60mm was not a factor it might be the easy 1st choice. DP review liked this one best though.

THE COMMON WEAK POINT:
In general this type/category (small point and shoot) of camera are very challenged by low light and indoors shooting. so that is a factor to really consider and what we would say is the weakest point. If you read the reviews below and on sites like Amazon this subject comes up over and over again. This is something to really factor in.

THE REVIEWS:

Enthusiasts Group at DPreview: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q408enthusiastgroup/
Canon G10 VS Nikon at Luminous Landscape: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/pocket-battleships.shtml
Canon Powershot G10 at DPreview: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/CanonG10/
Panasonic Lumix DCM-LX3 at DPreview: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmclx3/
Panasonic Lumix DCM-LX3 a Luminous Landscape: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/lx3.shtml
Canon G10 VS a $40,000 Hasselblad H2 at Luminous Landscape: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/kidding.shtml
(Hasselblad H2 and 39 Megapixel back Phase One P45+ with the Hasselblad 55-110mm lens attached)

SAMPLES:
http://www.dpreview.com/gallery/panasoniclx3_samples/

http://www.dpreview.com/gallery/canong10_samples/

THE TIE BREAKER:

We could not decide. Even eating an extra piece of Green and Blacks organic DARK 85% chocolate was not enough to help us decide.  This was a tough a choice.

In order to finally decide I suggested we put everything else aside and look at the sample images on DPreview. I invited my dad to join in also who also offered a lot of valuable advice.

We all liked the photos from the LX3 best!

My mom offered $100 towards what ever camera we wanted so price would not be the deciding factor. Thanks mom, this helped also!

THE WINNER: Panasonic Lumix DCM-LX3!

Panasonic Official Site: http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/Cameras-Camcorders/Digital-Cameras/Lumix-Digital-Cameras/model.DMC-LX3K.O_11002_7000000000000005702#tabsection

Canon Official Site: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=144&modelid=17624#ModelDetailAct

WHERE TO BUY A PANASONIC DCM-LX3:

I already knew the best prices I was finding was at Amazon. But instead of going to Amazon, the tab was already open in Firefox, I closed the tab. I went to DPreview and clicked to Amazon from their site.

They deserve what ever affiliate money they get from that click! VitalBodies thanks DPreview for their great site and help.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmclx3/

I am not sure what review I liked the best but the Enthusiasts Group was perhaps my favorite. The samples broke the tie.

We would have liked to see more portraits in the samples for the G10.

If we buy accessories we will click from Luminous Landscape as that site helped a lot also. Much thanks to Luminous Landscape!

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/lx3.shtml

We hope this blog post helps you decide also, if so buy through us with the links below…

Also, if you have any questions about where NOT to buy consult http://www.resellerratings.com

We found a questionable seller while shopping. They were listed as a sellers who routinely does the classic low price bate and switch scam.

Nice to know…

Where we bought our final versions of these cameras:

Panasonic DMC-LX3

Canon Powershot G10

More Posts:

LX3: http://www.vitalbodies.com/blog/tag/lx3/

G10: http://www.vitalbodies.com/blog/tag/canon-powershot-g10/